Wayfarer64

Here is another link to Jung's writtings, this on Richard Wilhelm-who is certainly amongst the foremost translaters of the I Ching from the west... http://www.schoolofwisdom.com/jung-wilhelm.html

I hope there are a few Bums in the NYC area that can make it to this event...It seems a good spot to have a mini-meet-up... in the NYC area next Month. The Coalition for OneVoice presents: Passion To Connect Join us at New York's Conscious Networking Event Have you received the cosmic e-mail saying "it's time to reach out?" Do you wish to join with others of like mind to help change the world? Bring your ideas, enthusiasm, and printed material about your organization to distribute. Spirit New York 530 West 27th Street Ovtober 15th Information phone: 212 616-3075 [email protected] there is a donation asked att he door of $10.00 to help cover expenses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.anhglobal.org/ Alliance for a New Humanity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Coalition for OneVoice is calling all members of NYC's spiritual organizations, healers and teachers, yoga practitioners, environmental groups, wellness centers, inspired artists, performers, and individuals, to unite to form a collective power, consciously connecting and engaging to strengthen and support activities that reflect an evolution towards an enlightened society, as well as connecting internationally with the Alliance for a New Humanity. The Alliance for a New Humanity is a global cooperative of people from all regions of the world and from all walks of life, united by a common vision to facilitate the strengthening and emergence of an actively caring humanity, a network of individuals sharing awareness and concern. What is needed now is to connect those who realize the fundamental unity of humanity and all of nature to create a worldwide shift of consciousness. www.anhglobal.org.

Hi, and welcome! Lots of good friendly advice here already. Just a few ideas I'd like to add... One is that when working on one's self, there is at some point a realization that there is a dark part to our own - all too human -nature. There is an element of greed and envy, lust or prejudice etc. in each human. These are elements of character that we can take notice of and work to rid ourselves of. This is a big step in self-realization. You are already on the path. Basic hatha yoga and meditation will relieve much stress from whatever source. Often when the mind catches itself in dark thoughts and bedeveling details a deep breath and a conscious re-direction can bring ya 'round to some relief from that kind of stress. Something I have found - that has helped me; is easy and often amusing. When I catch myself angry or concerned with some negative reaction to my current situation, I think back to eighth grade and what my concerns were at that time. Try it... See what I mean? Very little of those concerns have much import on life now. Perhaps the basic socialization of those formative days has taken some root, but otherwise my life's concerns have definately moved on, matured and become more nurturing than self-obsorbed.... When you reach new stages of your introspection and find the real depth of character that self-awarness tenders - those negative moments become less intrusive more managable as it were...Just the first small step to contemplation of the inner self is the most impotant door of perception...You are already on the way to leading a self-examined life. Enjoy the most rewarding journey known to mankind! Discovery of your potential to be the best you is a major satori in itself!

Hi LotusBud, That reminds me of the old Jim Morrison-( of The Door's) -Line ... "You can not petition the lord with prayer!" Which seems to be the gist of both many Catholic and Nishiren ShoShu forms of prayer and chanting...A form of concentrated mental energy -perhaps- only with a materialistic aim in mind. It's too bad that the desert mystics are almost forgotten by the main-line church papas...Thanks for the reminders of "western" mysticism! We once had shamans too!

Hi Cat, Putting words into JC's mouth has been the norm since the beginning when the whole schmeer became a game of post-office! If its the Gnostics or the Joseph/Paul concoction or the laterday Popes who became "infallable" the guy has never cought a break. It's too bad he didn't leave any written works behind. But if you do believe in the resurection, well, that is a cornerstone of Christianity. You may find an "entre vous" at the pearly gates! A rabinical student/scholar would say shaman shmaman he was a Rabbi that may have traveled to the Hamalayan foot-hills to study or maybe had some home-schooling from errant monks. In any case he must have been a pretty charismatic cat to have gleaned followers - be they revolutionaries or spiritual seekers, he had some tricks up his sleeve to keep their attentions. Getting himself up again for another go at it didn't seem to last in any case. Maybe we should ask George W. Bush- He claims God talks to him Every Night! Lets demaind the truth from our leadership! At least in this one area of concern...

Interesting stuff to speculate on Sean! This is indeed an open-ended topic. I don't think JC ever thought of himself as anything but a Jewish Rabinical student/teacher. It seems many of his teachings sprung from Buddhist thinking -which was some 500 years along at that time. The stories of the 3 wise men got me to thinking that perhaps he was a reincarnated Buddhist lama that was sought out by monks to be blessed as the new incarnation- just as is still done in Tibetan Buddhism. But some say that trio's tale was a nod to Zaoroastrianism from Persia...anyway- Having been raised in a town that straddled the silk road he was exposed to many systems of religious thought- Zoaroastrianism was very strong in those days and was a real contender for world religion status until Constantine chose Christianity to tie the Roman Empire together...I'm sure the young JC heard many stories and practices that were based in Taoism and Buddhism and Hinduism etc... But in the end I think Cloud 's on the right track, with him being a Jewish patriot who wanted Judaism to clean-up its' act and be rid of corrupting influences-like the Romans! So I think that what we have as Christianity now is based on stuff written at least a generation after the passing of Jesus into history. These writings were Roman friendly as Cloud points out-Paul and (I think it was) Joseph of Aramathia created the Gospels and became prostlatizers of great zeal... Some say that the Gnostic Gospels are closer to the Christs' teachings than the current Christian Gospels. If we could just click a "restore" function for history, where we could plug in a date and retrieve our past- undoing our mistakes at the same time- we could sort this out! Hey Cloud we continue our "Roll"!- you must be brillient!!! we agree on so many topics-(LOL)

After reading the thread and the questions I have to agree with Karen - but I figured go the middle way and answer every question on the middle button- then I got a tie breaker that asked which I felt strongest about- chose felt most spiritual connection to "Nature"- Hre's their take on that: You scored as Paganism. Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. Islam 50% Judaism 50% Christianity 50% Buddhism 50% Hinduism 50% agnosticism 50% Satanism 50% Paganism 50% atheism 50% This is like in The Producers selling 50% of the production to each investor This time I just answered the questionable questions- Buddhism 79% Satanism 75% Paganism 71% Hinduism 67% Islam 58% atheism 46% agnosticism 38% Christianity 38% Judaism 25%

Pero, Now thats a town to meet in! I've not been to Venice since the 70's and guess it has changes less than most places since then. Enjoy!

Hey Sean, No offense meant! Perhaps "seeking companions on the way" works better as an expression of what I think you want. So far in my humble experience,with the master's I have met, I have found massive egos still well situated among their many other attributes. Humility, compassion, perseverance and stoicism are what I look for now. In myself and my fellow humans. I know I lack these traits much of the time and hope to become more open to my potential for them. The power I seek is no longer martial - as it once was. Any teacher who shows me such traits will have my attention. Getting back "into shape" holds some interest also. Still, at 52 I'm likely too old a dog for new training...& I do not see myself needing to walk through walls anytime soon. But as the "original Yoda" minght say... It's ready to listen, I am. Is your teacher likely to want to meet a cranky middle-aged stoic & middle-way walker?

Sean, You are starting to sound like a recruiter for your system and your teacher. This is a very interesting thread and many serious topics have been raised. But if it is about bringing new students to your teacher than let us know that also. Many of us here have been seeking internal paths for physical strength, mental clearity, peace of mind, a sense of spiritual oneness with our environment, even "magical" powers have been mentioned. I for one am only seeking harmony within myself and with the world I live in. To me striving for enlightenment is like trying to find true love by casting a net. It is not an appropriate way to go about the attainment. Only by letting go of the self can we find our centers. That self, in fact that which dies, has to be transcended for our minds to be opened. I for one have only glimpsed this quality and only when I was mentally "sure " that I was as good as dead already. I gave up my grip on my life and became one with my dieing, with my pain, and then with my seperation from life (as I knew it then). Obviously I did not die. But- It was as if I became a being only of spirit and was able to leave my body. There are many accounts of such "out of body" experiences... I did however retain the idea of my "true being" as being what could be thought of as "more than" mortal. And I believe such experiences are a key to the mystical powers some seek here. These sorts of experiences have been spoken of by many accident victims and war casualties etc. But the common element is letting go of the self, of that which dies. This is why I have such serious concerns for the kinds of paths offered to people and what sort of techniques are used to bring about the release from the self. I do not recommend the traumatic! It is counter-productive to psychic health, and physical health as well. An able and wise master can surely prepare his students much better for attaining a release from the self and entering a realm of spiritual being that is intrinsicly not of the lower levels of consciousness. And then be able to maintain this level of consciousness. My point being that there is no true way to pursue power before one is ready to be selfless and live with a conscious mind that is basicly without a will unconnected to the environment one is in. This is both Stoic and Taoist philosophy. Any personal striving will not lead to enlightened consciousness. Seeking a way to manifest Devotion to all of life offers some small hope of enlightenment is another way to say this.

A fine discription of "letting go" Sean! As we have shared before; the willfullness of some striving attempts to reach enlightenment and inner powers may be counter-productive, even harmful to the seeker. Finding one's natural level in order to move forward is key to being in the moment and able to remain in your Tao. The state of being we find ourselves in will usually contain elements of discord and struggle. These are our challanges to move through time and space. Being at one with our environment is basic to the Stoicism of Epictitus as well as the Way of Lao Tze. Struggling against nature- be it our own inner nature or that of the wider world, seldom tenders benificial results. Controling our own base instincts and harnessing their power can work wonders. Or may produce a flood of problems down the road... Just as building a dam to control a raging river needs planning and forethought and a sound base to build from, so does the inner taming of ourselves and the harnessing of that power. The eventual harnessing of raging powers can be channeled to turn the turbines of our directed energies, but if the dam breaks there is hell to pay. Beginning with a calm and stoic "Ataraxia"-or impurtubability is a good start. Yet difficult as it is natural to have a passionate urge to grow when first we learn of our own potentials. Yet a certain amount of "Apatheia"- freedom from passion - is wise to hold onto in one's questing. An Epicurian freedom from fear is a goal to attain, but may be dangerous to use as a starting point.

Thank you for your thoughts Sean! I have been amazed at the willingness to experiment with serious and potentially dangerous practices in these pages. Even when we sense a need to explore these abilities, most humans have little capacity for such internal powers and can be a danger to themselves and others without much effort - Even if only a bit of these emmence potentials are released "just for practice". Tapping into these energies is not all that hard for some people, as I have written on these pages before- some Gurus have shown powers but no integrity... Many of us who seek inner paths to answer our life's quest for meaning, and reject the materialism of the wider world are still basically human -of course! Power can still corrupt us from within. Please be careful out there " Do not try this at home" is a useful bit of advice for many of these practices. Seeking power is a fool's errand if there is no wisdom attained before hand. Please listen to Sean! He seems to have done his share of questing and practice to offer a fair warning. I deeply believe that the first step is "conquering the self" before such energies can be used safely. This doesn't mean becoming someone else -a yin oriented or tranquill type of person . It means being in control of who you are, introverted, extroverted or whatever...These things can often enough even scare the masters who usually can control them. I know a Kundalini master who created art works that seemed to have real yang powers! I showed his art in my gallery and ended up keeping the work in envelopes because they scared the hell out of me when I used them to concentrate meditative powers a couple times. And Ive seen Grand Master Bill Chung on the back of the wildest stallion he could find -after signing a release to the stable... One minute the fractious beast was spinning and bucking. Master Chung " tapped" its' neck and instantly the horse froze, started pissing with its ears back and nostrels flaring whinnying a whatthefuck!!!! in Equinese until kicked into a timid trot! I could only shake my head and chuckle. So as bad as you think ya are, or as good as you hope ya are - take these things step by step.

Now that is very interesting...There seems to be a definate alteration of the mantra's transcendent qualities in using the ng rather than the MM sounding. It may be part of the universal nature of the MM sound?! The MMM sound is usually the first used by human babies. The enunciated " Ma" sound is almost universally found in the word for mother. ie ma in Chinese... That you are feeling this variation with the ng sound in your third chakra level is a profound idea to me. The third chakra is the heart and "soul" of my meditative practice. I have always concentrated on trying to start my meditations from that level and work my consciousness up and out of my third eye or even the top of my head... which happens much less often... I have a sense that the mmm in the "Home" sound I have been using is a resonance in my head and seems to be emitted out from my head! That is after at least half an hour or so of reaching a deep trance-like practice. It is not so hard to believe that that small change can alter the experience... I shall try your pronounciation soon and see if I sense a difference... I consider this the most powerful mantra I have ever used to move through the chakras and feel at peace with the one and all. I have never used an image when meditating for pure transcendence. I do use my Happy Buddha statue that I found in Burma and that only when I hope to gain something on the karmic or artha levels and then I use the Nichiren shoshu chant - nom myoho renge kyo...

I've been using a variation of the same chant for some 30 years and I think it may have saved my life! I'm pretty sure that when I was in Nepal the pronounciation that was taught to me was closer to Om Mani Padme Hum "HOME: rather than the "ng" sound... But there could be dialectic and pronunciation differences that I am not aware of... Peace- Pat

I have a few jpgs of Tibetan Thangkas with images of Dieties on my web site one of which I am trying to research... There is a Green Tara representing the compassionate nature of the Diety. and more... As well as links to other sites with Thangkas and images http://www.pdgart.com/Thangkas1.html I hope there is enough info to answer most of yr questions! Enjoy!

There is a new movie out by Hiedi Ewing called Jesus Camp...I have yet to see it but have read reviews. Has anyone seen this movie? It gets cheers and AMENS in the bible belt, while gleaning groans and a sort of dis-spirited shock from the coastal folks. So it would seem that The USA is still being further divided by differing secular and religious views. My take so far is that if real science can be challanged by sectarian beliefs we are in trouble as a nation. Knowledge is power, belief is folly.

What a great idea. Real world contact sure beats cyber-space -& I love cyber-space... What are the geographics/demographics of the Bums? It seems there are a little less than 500 of us hoboing our way along. Most seem to be American but there are plenty globally. It could be that a National or State Park may be optimal to set up a camp site so to keep over-head costs down and be out in the beauty of the world... Or perhaps tie it in with the "Gathering of the vibes", or even "Burning Man" to make a broader reach as a group... And have built-in facilities to keep our costs down... I have just added a thread for the OneVoice Gathering in NYC on Oct. 15th. Maybe we could use that as a dry-run for a larger event later on... Or even a caravan/road trip that makes a few stops and has an itinerary that can go from California to Memphis to NYC, Montreal , Chicago with camping spots figured out to meet at... Or all of the above!? C'mon back good buddies, is that a ten-four?

This may be of some interest to some of you in the NYC area next Month. The Coalition for OneVoice presents: Passion To Connect Join us at New York's Conscious Networking Event Have you received the cosmic e-mail saying "it's time to reach out?" Do you wish to join with others of like mind to help change the world? Bring your ideas, enthusiasm, and printed material about your organization to distribute. Spirit New York 530 West 27th Street Ovtober 15th Information phone: 212 616-3075 [email protected] there is a donation asked att he door of $10.00 to help cover expenses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.anhglobal.org/ Alliance for a New Humanity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Coalition for OneVoice is calling all members of NYC's spiritual organizations, healers and teachers, yoga practitioners, environmental groups, wellness centers, inspired artists, performers, and individuals, to unite to form a collective power, consciously connecting and engaging to strengthen and support activities that reflect an evolution towards an enlightened society, as well as connecting internationally with the Alliance for a New Humanity. The Alliance for a New Humanity is a global cooperative of people from all regions of the world and from all walks of life, united by a common vision to facilitate the strengthening and emergence of an actively caring humanity, a network of individuals sharing awareness and concern. What is needed now is to connect those who realize the fundamental unity of humanity and all of nature to create a worldwide shift of consciousness. www.anhglobal.org. Please visit FIONS' website! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 pm Doors open -- Registration and posting of resources, needs and desires. All organizations are invited to display their information of their networking potentials. 3 pm Gathering -- Opening sounds and contemplation. We welcome Alan Steinfeld. Performance -- Voicepoint of the Vistar Foundation presents poetry, movement, and music. Dialogue -- Deepak Chopra, President of the Alliance for a New Humanity; Andrew Cohen, founder of EnlightenNext with Judy Martin, Independent National Journalist. Participation -- World Cafe Dialogue: Sharing our Visions by exploring what we can offer one another, what we might need, airing questions, offering ideas. Facilitator, Jane Hughes Gignoux. Conclusion -- Alex Grey on building community; Sheila Wall, "What's Next?" Closing -- Entertainer Fred Johnson leads everyone in song and coming together as OneVoice. 5:30-6 pm -- Connecting, sharing, exchanging information.

Well in any case for any of the Hebrew Tribe out there -and anyone else for that matter- have a great and happy New Year! I just recieved this from a Jewish/Zen/DADAist and will share it with da bums...If all comes to pass it will seem like the world is working pretty sweetly... Happy New Year!! May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise. May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber, and the IRS. May you find a way to travel from anywhere to anywhere during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there may you find a parking space. May this Yom Tov, find you seated around the dinner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the Jewish New Year ahead. May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May your checkbook and your budget balance, and may they include generous amounts for charity. May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your partner, your child, and your parent(s). May we live as intended, in a world at peace with the awareness of the beauty in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous part of ourselves. Bless you with every happiness, great health, peace and much love during the next year and all those that follow.

Hi Hoogar! I hope you find what yr looking for here at Tao Bums! Also, I wish to invite you to visit my own philosophy & faith links page that has many Taoist sites listed as well as several other types of belief systems...These may be of interest to you in your searching. I will admit The Bums are a lot more fun than my site! Here there is interaction! http://www.pdgart.com/lipnf.html so once again -welcome aboard!- wayfarer

Hang in there Michael ! one day isn't so bad to delve deep into human tribulations. If you don't have aids were not killed in a war and weren't gased and tortured by nutzis you can count yr blessings and get on with life, and nurturing new life too I assume... If and when I get down in those levels of contemplating senseless death, corrupt wars, and insane inhumanity to man - I for one wonder is the Universe working? And if this is working maybe we should monkey-wrench the gear-box... But then I come to my "right mind" realizing we make our own realities & my brain is the only gear-box I need access to... in order to set my world back on its way to live in the light...At least until the next jack-ass sends out those negative waves and manages to piss me off or bum me out with some new inane folly! So building up yr psychic defences is a good thing. Having spent that day you need not do anything but count your blessings to come back to a balanced view of any problems that come yr way...

I think I'll stick to sea salt .I'm pretty sure the properties are much too similar to the Mountain salt for me to get so carried away with where the salt comes from-But the sea salt is very preferable to regular iodized table salt - it is a much better taste. Bronners makes an almond soap that may be a bit more palatable.? I use a sandle-wood scented soap made in China-because I eat a head of garlic every day & I think it is just polite to minimize garlicy body odors. As an old hippy I have taken some flack over the years for the un-bathed hippy mystic...Not so much on my own account or habits - which tend to be more Japanese than Height-Ashbury. Cleanliness is just more healthful. If your teeth hurt there may be a real problem-if you're not a Christian-scientist get a doc to check the chompers .

I've had some bad tooth problems too. I now use a mix of sea-salt cayanne and hydrogin-peroxide 5% sollution in a sort of pasty slurry. Some times I just soak my mouth with a half t-spoon of sea salt that produces alot of saliva I soak my mouth for an hour, spitting out and adding new salt once or twice. Its like brining yr gums and kills EVERYTHING in your mouth. Bacteria can not live in a salty environment.